A Jewish Story. Sheldon Cohen

maybe you’ll even swim with your old mommy sometime, even though you’re so much better than I am. I’m sure they have a swim team you can join.”

      Emily smiled and hugged her mother.

      Ben said, “And David, there’s a good high school and university there and you’ll be able to start next semester. When I was there and visited the gym, I spoke with the gymnastics coach. I told him about how good you were and he said he’s anxious to check

      you out and it sounds like you’ll be able to make the senior boy’s team. They have competitions just like we have here in Germany. I watched the boys work out and I think you’ll be as good as the best of them, maybe even better.”

      “Sounds good, Dad, as long as we’re all there together—that’s all that counts.”

      “Perfect, David, that’s the only thing that counts.”

      Leah nodded and smiled. “Okay, kids, go and finish your homework,” said Leah. “Emily, get me when you’re finished and I’ll check it over.”

      “Okay, mom.”

      After both children left the kitchen, Leah said, “You did a good job with David, honey.”

      “Thanks. We’ve got smart and great children thanks to my brainy wife. Thank God for the Jewish Community Center where I saw this dazzling creature sitting against the wall.I just pray we’re doing the right thing.”

      “We are, Ben. We must. For the last three years, we watched Hitler consolidate his power. The man is as ruthless as a human being can become. He’s putting all his Mein Kampf ravings in place, and he’s starting with you and me and all the Jews of Germany. He didn’t waste any time. He wants us out and he’s succeeding. It wouldn’t be safe for any Jew in Germany any more and whoever doesn’t leave is playing with their lives.”

      “That’s what I tried to tell, David,” said Ben.

      “I’m sure you did a great job. David could understand. I just want to shield Emily a bit now. She’s too young and it would worry her at this age. We just have to act as if we’re moving to another country as a family with no deep reasons behind it. It will be easier there in Byelorussia where she will not have to hear about Hitler ranting and raving about the Jews.”

      “Is this madman going to bring another World War to the world?” asked David.

      “A Nostradamus I’m not, but all the chess pieces seem to me to be falling into place. The world is worried about it and I have to agree. Don’t you?”

      “Yes, I do. Tell me, my genius wife, what do you think? You are my main teacher now that I don’t go to school anymore.”

      Leah laughed. “Well, in this year alone three things have happened that in my mind, at least, all point in that direction…”

      “What three things?” interrupted Ben.

      “First, the Versailles Treaty demilitarized the Rhineland. This area is all German territory west of the Rhine with three big cities: Cologne, Dusseldorf and Bonn. In Hitler’s mind, it meant that Germany couldn’t use it. The effect was that it was no longer part of Germany. How long do you think he would stand for that? It took him three years, but he acted; he sent troops there. Shouldn’t the French have kicked him out?”

      Ben asked, “Why didn’t they?”

      “I wish I knew. I suppose they didn’t want any bloodshed. Since the Rhineland territory was under treaty from Versailles, all the others who signed the treaty should have gotten together and kicked the Nazis out. So they didn’t and that left the French on the border and they didn’t want to act alone. That’s my best guest. Anyhow, I’m sure it left Hitler feeling like a military genius. It just emboldened him. God knows what he’ll do next.”

      “You got that right, but he doesn’t need any more emboldening. He already thinks that he’s a political genius,” added Ben.

      “Well, now you could add military to that list. I’m sure he’s beginning to think that he’s a prophet. God knows what a man like that is capable of.”

      “I agree. You said three things. What else is there?” asked Ben

      “Another thing happened that had nothing to do with Hitler, but had to do with another Fascist dictator—Mussolini.”

      “Oh, you mean Abbysinia?”

      “Yes, here was a great power and look what they did to a primitive country.”

      “So why do you use this as an example? Hitler probably never even knew that Mussolini would do this.”

      “You’re right, I’m sure, but it’s just an example of what Fascism can lead to when strong men think they can do what they want in the name of building their empire. This Rhineland thing was one of Hitler’s first attempts to reconstruct his empire, and I’ll bet you anything that it’s only number one in what will be more grabs by this madman. There’s plenty of talk about “The Great German Empire”—A Greater Reich. Don’t you think that’s his goal?”

      “So, Hitler sees Mussolini in action, and it just wants to make him flex his muscles too,” said Ben.

      “Sure, Mussolini has been Hitler’s idol. When Hitler tried his Beer Hall Putsch in Munich way back in twenty-three, he was trying to take over the government just like Mussolini took over Italy. But for Hitler, It didn’t work. He wasn’t ready. But he never took his eye off the prize. You got to give him credit for single-mindedness. I’m afraid the world will pay a price.”

      “The Jews are already paying that price. The world might later,” added Ben.

      “I don’t think there’s any later about it. It’s already starting.”

      “And what’s number three?” asked Ben.

      “Number three is the big one, Spain. Their government couldn’t govern. Left leaning socialistic parties competed against right-wing conservative factions; there was increasing polarization. When you have such chaos, here comes another Fascist group, a bunch of right-wing generals led by General Francisco Franco. And what do they do? They do what Fascists do best, they try to seize power. So what happens? A civil war. Who do you think jumps into that stew?”

      “Yeah, Hitler and Mussolini.”

      “They made a pact with Franco, giving him military support in return for large quantities of raw materials for their war machine. It worked. This enabled Franco to capture more and more territory. What do Britain and France and the United States do? You got it…nothing, but they did sign a Non-Intervention Pact thinking it would contain the war by not providing the government with armaments. But all it did was benefit Franco who conquered more and more territory.”

      “It sounds like Fascism is getting to be the wave of the future,” said Ben.

      “Pray it isn’t. You can already see what it can lead to in Germany. Anyhow, Franco couldn’t capture the north part of Spain, so he asked Hitler for the loan of his latest air force fighters and bombers. Hitler didn’t hesitate; this would be the perfect opportunity to test his improved air force. He formed the Condor legion you read about. What a perfect chance for a dress rehearsal. Not only could he try out his military for the war he dreams about, but there were a lot of political reasons the war was tailor-made for him.”

      “What were they?”

      “First of all, France had always been Germany’s worst enemy. Now France had two Fascist states surrounding it—Germany and Italy. What better than to have a third one, Spain, on France’s border.

      “Second, there was a lot of political strife between the right and the left in France, which was being made worse by the Spanish Civil War; and the more strife in France the better, when it came to the relationship between France and Germany.”

      “Is that because all that political strife in France weakened her in her relationship with Germany?”